Join us for the Canadian Premiere of Andy Cohen and Gaylen Ross's Ximei.

In the 1990s, China launched a campaign to extract blood plasma from its citizens. The government paid villagers to donate blood, but most of the equipment was contaminated with HIV. A massive HIV/AIDS crisis ensued, with approximately 300,000 people contracting AIDS in Henan province alone. The Chinese government has vehemently ignored the crisis, which is worsened by the pervasive social stigma attached to HIV/AIDS patients. Ximei, the subject of the eponymous documentary, unknowingly received HIV-contaminated blood after a farming accident. Now, she fights to raise awareness about the crisis and build a community with other victims. Shot over seven years, Ximei exposes a shocking history and the state oppression that Ximei continues to fight today. Moreover, the film is a tribute to Ximei’s indefatigable spirit and her absolute refusal to let this crisis be forgotten.

Immediately following the screening, Andy Cohen and Gaylen Ross (co-directors) will join for post-screening Q&A via Skype.

For the full schedule and a full festival pass, click here.

Accessibility: Wheelchair Accessible Venue, Open Captions, Introduction and Q&A are ASL Interpreted. There will be a held space with an active listener on-site should you need to talk.

HRFF is an initiative of JAYU, a charity committed to sharing human rights stories through the arts. We rely on the incredible generosity of our community to ensure our festival remains accessible to everyone by offering geared-to-income admission and subsidized tickets.

Please consider selecting the “Donate A Ticket” option when you purchase your ticket to the festival, or make a tax-deductible donation to JAYU today.